The sale of the vacant IGA building was contingent on two things: a variance of 2:1 parking for vehicles that the commission approved, and if Albertsons will be able to qualify for the Gross Receipts Investment Program. The GRIP ordinance will be considered by commissioners at their Dec. 18 meeting.

The parking ordinance requires businesses with off-street parking have three feet to one feet of variance in the businesses parking lot.

The proposed Albertsons store building project would require the vacant IGA building to be demolished and a new modern store built on site in its place.

The new store space will increase from 49,000-square feet to 55,000-square feet.

"I think this is an outstanding development for Alamogordo," City Commissioner Robert Rentschler said. "I think we've needed it for a very long time."

City Planner Marc South said the IGA property is already zoned at a 2:5 ratio for parking.

"The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed this at their Nov. 1 meeting and recommended approval for it," South said.

The present owner of the building, Michael Shyne, was asking for a two feet to one foot variance for automobile parking.

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Shyne read a statement to commissioners from Super Market Developers Inc.'s vice president Scott Wilmoski as their official representative concerning the variance request.

Super Market Developers will be the company building the proposed Albertsons store on 10th Street.

"For some time now, SMD has been working on a proposed grocery store for this location," Shyne read to commissioners, "and has had several meetings and conversations with various city staff regarding this development. SMD's intended tenant for this location is Albertsons. While the deal has not been totally finalized, SMD is confident that this project will be moving forward very quickly and has exhibited its confidence by spending several thousand dollars in due diligence items as it relates to the proposed development."

He also said a representative from SMD intends to be at the commission's Dec. 18 meeting in which the GRIP application will be heard.

Shyne said the Super Market Developers representative will also make further announcements and answer questions regarding the time table for the Albertsons project or any other questions commissioners may have.

He said he has the Library Foundation property at Oregon Avenue and 10th Street under contract to purchase.

Representing Lowe's Grocery store, Attorney Angelia B. Lee said she was not at the meeting to stop progress or complain about competition with Albertsons.

"The threshold of free enterprise is a level playing field," Lee said. "Where Albertsons, Lowe's, Walmart and the Van Winkles of the past competed under the same rules. The rule we're discussing is the providing of adequate parking when you have a business that brings people into that business. Alamogordo said a long time ago adequate parking for a business is three feet to one foot of business."

She said parking costs money.

"Less parking costs less money," Lee said at the meeting. "In addition, less parking means there's more store and more room for product. In his application, Mr. Shyne specifically stated that any other solution to bring an Albertsons to Alamogordo was not economically feasible for Albertsons and it was not commercially feasible. I think it's important that it didn't say it was not economically feasible for anyone. It said for Albertsons, it's not economically feasible."

The Daily News attempted to contact Lowe's through Lee for further comment for this story, but because of the Thanksgiving Day holiday, the Daily News and Lee were unable to contact Lowe's representatives as of press time.